Improvement in apparatus for the distribution of liquid fuel



'G. H. PERKINS.

Apparatus for the Distribution of Liquid Fuel.

Patented Ma No. i50,606.-

UN TED STATES A'IENT FFICE.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOSEPH LE COMTE,

OF NEW YORK CITY, AND ATLANTIC REFINING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

150,606, dated May 5, ism; application filed Februaiy 21,1874.

CAsE G.

To all whom it may} concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PERKINS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Apparatus for the Distribution of Liquid Fuel, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to distribute benzine and other light spirits of petroleum to different heating appliances in a building without incurring the usualdanger which accompanies the similar use of these fluids in manufactories and other buildings, and this object I attain by the tank and system of pipes illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The rectangular tank A, which contains the benzine, and which is shown in the longitudinal section, Figure 1, and transverse section, Fig. 2, is made of galvanized iron, and with joints of the character best observed in the enlarged View, Fig. 3, on reference to which it will be observed that the flange a of the top plate terminates at a short distance from the upper edge of the end plate I), so as to leave an angular recess, 00, which is filled with solder, applied in-the usual manner, the heads of the rivets by which the plates are secured being also covered with solder.

Benzine is of such a subtile character that ordinary riveted joints are not proof against its penetrating properties; hence the addition described of solder, which is adopted throughout all the joints of the tank. B is the outletpipe, furnished with cocks d and d, and connected within the tank, by a swivel-elbow, B with tmB to the upper end of which is connected a float, f, the latter alwa'ys maintaining the orifice of the delivery-pipe a short distance below the level of the benzine in the tank, so that none but the lightest and purest of the benzine can pass into the outletpipe. The tank is provided with a cock, 9, through which the thick and impure benzine and water can be drawn ofi' from time to time. The height of the benzine in the tank is indicated at all times by the float h. C is the inlet, provided with a snugly-flttin g cover, C, on removing which a can of benzine can be tilted onto a grating, i, and there left until its coir tents have passed into the tank.

It should be understood that the tank A is secured to the outside of the wall of a building, at a point adjacent to the latter, and at an altitude of about five feet above the burnried upward outside the wall Gr, as shown in Fig. 5, until they reach a point where they must pass through the wall to the burners within the building, carebeing taken that these pipes are slightly inclined upward from the wall to the burners. A branch pipe, H, fun nished with a cock, n, extends from the vertical pipe D to the entrance of a well, I, into which all the pipes can be emptied when the 1 occurrence of a flrc or other circumstances de mand such a course. The pipe D terminates at its lower end in a metal box, J, within which the pipe is furnished. with a suitable cock, q, the box being of sufficient depth to permit the introduction of a tumbler, p, or

other suitable transparentvessel below the end of the pipe.

Benzine has such an affinity for moisture, especially in cold weather, that water must invariably collect in the pipes, and being heavier than benzine, the water must seek the lowest level.

On opening the cock q this water must es cape from the pipe D into the tumbler, the transparency of which permits the attendant to ascertain when the flow of water ceases and that of benzine commences, a change which will prompt him to close the cock q.

This operation may be repeated from tim to time, as the accumulation of water may suggest.

The extension of the pipe D beneath the delivery-pipe B and discharge-pipe H should be of sufficient capacity tocontain all the water which is likely to accumulate between the regular intervals at which it is drawn ofi by the attendant. This is necessary in order to prevent said water from being forced upward to the burners. One or more branch pipes, M, may extend from the pipe D to other buildin gs, there to communicate through other pipes with the burners of heating apparatus.

It will be observed, as an especial feature of my invention, that the whole of the pipes are inclined downward toward the dischargepipe H, and that the delivery-pipe B communicates with the main distributer D at a point above said discharge-pipe. The object of this arrangement is to permit all of the benzine to be drawn off from the pipes, and the whole of the burners to be extinguished instantaneously in the event of a fire occurring within the building. If the cock d or d of the delivery-pipe B were simply turned oft, the supply of benzine under pressure to the burners would certainly cease, but the vaporizing of the benzine still'remaining in the distributing-pipes would cause each burner to remain ignited until this supply had been exhausted. By opening the cook a of the discharge-pipe H, however, simultaneously with, or immediately after, the cutting off of the sup the benzine, every precaution is taken to pre- 7 vent it from being a dangerous means of commencing conflagrations, or of spreading fires which may owe their origin to other sources.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with an elevated tank containing liquid fuel, of a supply-pipe, B, discharge-pipe H, and system of distributingpipes with their branches and burners, the whole being arranged in the manner described, so that the liquid can, when required, descend through all of the distributors into the dischargepipe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

enonen HQPERKINS.

Witnesses:

WM. A. STEEL, HARRY SMITH. 

